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☆ Ted Cruz, Better Known For Derailing Bills, Tries on a New Hat: Legislator
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Kayla Guo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Senator Ted Cruz is rebranding — at least for now. But for the first time this week, Mr. Cruz, now the senior Republican on the Commerce Committee, embraced a wholly unfamiliar role: managing a major piece of legislation on the Senate floor. It came as Mr. Cruz, who is running for re-election in November, is trying to moderate his reputation in Texas and present himself as capable of bipartisanship. That involved protecting the package from the sort of legislative and procedural bombs he has lobbed proudly throughout his career. “I will admit that I’ve had a couple of chuckles about it,” Senator Susan Collins of Maine, the top Republican on the Appropriations Committee, said with a smile.

Persons: Ted Cruz, Cruz, “, I’ve, Susan Collins of Organizations: Texas Republican, Affordable, Republican, Commerce, Federal Aviation Administration Locations: Texas, Susan Collins of Maine

☆ Lisa Murkowski, done with Trump, won’t rule out leaving GOP
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( Manu Raju | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

ET and 11 a.m. ET.Sen. Lisa Murkowski, aghast at Donald Trump’s candidacy and the direction of her party, won’t rule out bolting from the GOP. “I wish that as Republicans, we had … a nominee that I could get behind,” Murkowski told CNN. “I certainly can’t get behind Donald Trump.”The party’s shift toward Trump has caused Murkowski to consider her future within the GOP. As the tea party rose in 2010, Murkowski was at sharp odds with the insurgent right-wing of her party. In the 2024 cycle, Murkowski – along with Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine – offered a late endorsement of former South Carolina Gov.

Persons: Sen, Lisa Murkowski’s, Manu Raju ”, Lisa Murkowski, aghast, Donald Trump’s, Trump, “, ” Murkowski, Donald Trump, Murkowski, Let’s, Murkowski hasn’t, Frank Murkowski, George W, Bush –, Ted Stevens, John McCain’s, Sarah Palin, Republican Joe Miller, Brett Kavanaugh, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Mitch McConnell, Republican Sen, Susan Collins, Maine –, Nikki Haley, ” Organizations: GOP, Alaska Republican, CNN, Trump, Republican, ”, Alaska Gov, Senate, Senate GOP, South Carolina Gov Locations: Alaska

☆ Nikki Haley picks up first Senate endorsements from Collins, Murkowski while most GOP senators line up behind Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Read previewSince former President Donald Trump entered the 2024 presidential race in late 2022, his candidacy has dominated the GOP primary process, with most Senate Republicans slowly but surely falling into his camp. With Trump largely cruising toward the GOP presidential nomination ahead of Super Tuesday, he has won the endorsements of a majority of the Senate Republican Conference. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine — announced that they were backing former UN ambassador Nikki Haley over Trump. AdvertisementIn a response to The Bangor Daily News, Collins said that she voted for Haley over Trump in the GOP primary, adding that Haley has "the energy, intellect, and temperament" to serve in the White House. The support from Murkowski and Collins is noteworthy, as the two lawmakers are the first GOP members from the chamber to back Haley as she continues her uphill primary campaign against Trump.

Persons: —, Donald Trump, — Sens, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, Maine, Nikki Haley, Trump, Murkowski, Haley, Nikki, Collins, Ketanji Brown, Sen, Mitt Romney, Joe Biden's, Ralph Norman Organizations: Service, GOP, Republicans, Trump, Senate Republican Conference, Business, —, Maine —, Republican Party, Bangor Daily, Supreme, Republican Locations: Alaska, UN, Bangor, Murkowski, Utah, South Carolina

☆ For Trump and Biden, attention on North Carolina will linger well past Super Tuesday
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Steve Contorno | Jeff Zeleny | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

North Carolina, which Trump narrowly won in 2020, is emerging as a critical piece of Biden’s reelection strategy. It has been 16 years since Barack Obama delivered a North Carolina surprise in 2008. Former President Donald Trump gestures after speaking at the North Carolina Republican Party convention in Greensboro on June 10, 2023. She isn’t sure how much longer Republicans can hold the line in North Carolina. “Yes, we have had more growth in our urban communities, and it’s going to make North Carolina trend bluer in the future,” Anderson said.

Persons: North Carolina CNN — Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, Joe Biden, ”, Paul Shumaker, “ It’s, Haley, Kamala Harris, ” Harris, Barack Obama, Biden, Donald Trump, Chuck Burton, Sarah Reidy, Jones, Charlotte ” –, “, Trump, ” Haley, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins of, Will Trump, Haley’s, Harris, Peter Zay, scoff, Billy Ward, ” Trump, Susie Wiles didn’t, battlegrounds “, ” Wiles, Michael Whatley, Ronna McDaniel, Whatley, MAGA, Thom Tillis, Mark Robinson, Robinson, Roy Cooper, Ben McKeown, Anderson Clayton, ” Clayton, we’ve, ” Anderson, CNN’s Alayna Treene Organizations: North Carolina CNN, Republican, Trump, Democratic, North Carolina Republican Party, GOP, South, Biden, White, College, Duke University, University of North, Getty, Wake County Republican Party, CNN, North, North Carolina GOP, Republican National Committee, Republicans, Gov, state’s Democratic Party, Conservative, “ Locations: Raleigh, North Carolina, Michigan, “ North Carolina, Durham, Wake County, Mecklenburg County, Charlotte, Wake, Mecklenburg, –, Greensboro, Seattle, South Carolina, Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Carolina, University of North Carolina, Durham , North Carolina, Anadolu, GOP’s, Raleigh , North Carolina, Russia, Ukraine, Southern

☆ Sen. Chris Murphy, who helped broker the failed border security package, says it's 'worrying' that Mitch McConnell couldn't deliver more votes: 'No one is in charge over there'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Sen. Chris Murphy said in an interview that "no one" is leading Senate Republicans. "You can't make policy if no one is in charge," Murphy told Politico Magazine. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . "I just think it's really worrying that the leader of the Republican Party can't deliver more than four votes." But despite the setback, Murphy told the magazine he remained a "hopeless optimist" regarding the upper chamber.

Persons: Sen, Chris Murphy, Murphy, —, Chris Murphy of, GOP Sen, James Lankford of, Independent Sen, Kyrsten, Mitch McConnell's, That's, — Sens, Susan Collins of, Lisa Murkowski, Mitt Romney, Lankford —, McConnell, Donald Trump's, … Organizations: Republicans, Politico Magazine, Democratic, Service, Republican, GOP, Independent, Senate, Democrats, — Locations: Chris Murphy of Connecticut, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Arizona, Susan Collins of Maine, Alaska, Utah

But with regard to endorsements, Haley hasn’t necessarily benefited from the Trump holdouts, notably because they haven’t gone as far as to endorse her for the nomination. So while the holdouts might bother him on a personal level, they likely don’t have much influence over the Republican nomination in 2024. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnellMcConnell has said he has “essentially stayed out” of the GOP nomination process. 2 Republican, had endorsed Scott as a candidate for the GOP nomination. He’s in a commanding position, and I’ve said all along I’ll support the nominee,” Thune said about Trump on Wednesday.

Persons: Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, Haley, she’s, ” Haley, ”, Trump, Nikki ‘ Birdbrain ’ Haley, ” Trump, MAGA, Haley hasn’t, Chris Sununu, –, Ron DeSantis, Sen, Tim Scott of, Marco Rubio, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Josh Hawley, Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham of, John Barasso of, John Cornyn of, Deb Fischer, Nebraska, Mitch McConnell McConnell, McConnell, Mitt Romney, Utah Romney, Romney, hasn’t, Joe Biden, West Virginia Democratic Sen, Joe Manchin, Susan Collins of Maine Collins, Collins, John Thune of, Scott, Thune, “ I’m, I’ve, ” Thune, I’ll, Schumer, ” Sen, Joni Ernst, Iowa Ernst, Ernst Organizations: Republican, South Carolina Gov, Trump, Iowa, Donald Trump View, Republican Party, True American Patriots, New Hampshire Gov, Florida Gov, GOP, Capitol, West Virginia Democratic, John Thune of South Dakota Thune, Senate, Biden Locations: New Hampshire, “, South Carolina, Florida, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Marco Rubio of Florida , Arkansas, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Ted Cruz of Texas, Sen, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, John Barasso of Wyoming, John Cornyn of Texas, Utah, John Thune of South Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa

☆ These 20 GOP senators still haven't endorsed Trump — and some of them probably never will
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Yet in the Senate, long a bastion of Republican resistance (or at least hesitancy) to Trump, there are still a number of holdouts. As of January 24, there are still 20 Republican senators — out of 49 total — who have not endorsed Trump's 2024 bid. AdvertisementSome of those senators can be expected to get behind Trump when his nomination becomes official, or at least uncontested. Four current GOP senators — Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Mitt Romney of Utah — voted to convict Trump for incitement of an insurrection following January 6. AdvertisementYet GOP lawmakers have faced pressure, both from Trump and their voters, to fall in line.

Persons: —, Donald Trump's, Nikki Haley, Haley, Ralph Norman of, Trump's, Trump, Mitch McConnell, Bill Cassidy of, Susan Collins of, Lisa Murkowski, Mitt Romney, Utah —, it's, Sen, Todd Young, Young, JD Vance, Ohio, I've, haven't, John Boozman, Arkansas Shelly Moore Capito, West Virginia Bill Cassidy, Louisiana Susan Collins, Maine Joni Ernst, Chuck Grassley, Iowa Ron Johnson, Wisconsin John Kennedy of, Wisconsin John Kennedy of Louisiana James Lankford of, Wisconsin John Kennedy of Louisiana James Lankford of Oklahoma Mitch McConnell, Jerry Moran, Kansas Lisa Murkowski, Alaska Rand Paul of Kentucky Pete Ricketts, Nebraska Mitt Romney, Utah Mike Rounds, South Dakota Dan Sullivan, Alaska John Thune of, Alaska John Thune of South Dakota Thom Tillis, North Carolina Todd Young Organizations: Service, Republican, Business, Trump, Republicans, Senate, Todd Young of Indiana, New, Nebraska, South Dakota, Alaska John Thune of South Dakota, North Carolina Locations: Iowa, New Hampshire, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Alaska, Utah, Arkansas, West, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Wisconsin John Kennedy of Louisiana, Wisconsin John Kennedy of Louisiana James Lankford of Oklahoma, Alaska John Thune of South, Indiana

☆ Senate GOP offers cautious embrace of Trump amid fears over his electability
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Manu Raju | Melanie Zanona | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

On Tuesday night, the Texas Republican endorsed Trump and called for GOP unity after the New Hampshire primary. “Twenty percent of GOP voters will not vote for him,” the Republican member said. “Independent voters think Biden is weak, but they hate Trump. And that’s exactly what Trump’s going to do,” Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, told CNN. “And I think President Trump, in many people’s minds, is the answer to that status quo,” he said.

Persons: Sen, John Cornyn, Donald Trump’s, Trump, Trump’s electability, ” Cornyn, “, he’s, ”, John Thune, CNN’s, Nikki Haley, Haley, Biden, Republican holdouts, Trump’s, GOP Sen, Deb Fischer, Brandon Williams, Joe Biden, ” Sen, Thom Tillis, They’re, Lindsey Graham of, Mike Rounds, Fischer, President Trump, Mitch McConnell, McConnell, ” McConnell, I’ve, I’ll, Susan Collins of, ” Collins, she’d, Collins, “ I’m, Donald Trump, J.D, Vance of, Haley’s, What’s, ” Vance, Mitt Romney, Markwayne Mullin, CNN’s Ted Barrett, Sam Fossum, Kristin Wilson, Haley Talbot, Lauren Fox Organizations: Texas Republican, New, CNN, Republicans, GOP, Republican, Trump, South Carolina Gov, House Republican, “, Nebraska, North Carolina Republican, South Dakota Republican, Nebraska Republican Locations: New Hampshire, Iowa, New York, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine, Vance of Ohio, Utah, Washington, ” Washington, Oklahoma

☆ Congress just found the dumbest way to avoid a government shutdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Congress now appears likely to avoid a government shutdown this week. The White House even weighed in over the weekend before House Democrats started to warm up to Johnson's plan. Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas didn't stop Obamacare. And Republican Sen. Rand Paul's colleagues tore into him after he forced a brief shutdown in 2018. As I was writing this story about how Johnson's plan is the dumbest thing Congress has done, Sen. Bernie Sanders had to stop one of his colleagues from throwing down with a union boss.

Persons: —, America's, Mike Johnson, Democratic Sen, Patty Murray, Sen, Susan Collins of, Collins, Chris Murphy, It's, Joe Biden, Kevin McCarthy's, Mick Mulvaney, Obama, Republican Sen, Ted Cruz, Obamacare, Donald Trump didn't, Rand Paul's, Bernie Sanders, Kevin McCarthy Organizations: Service, Government, Pentagon, State, Justice, Human Services, House Democrats, Democratic, Senate, Republican, Connecticut Democrat, White House, GOP, Politico, Trump Locations: Washington, Susan Collins of Maine, Punchbowl, Connecticut, Ted Cruz of Texas

☆ Mitch McConnell warns GOP senators they’ll face ‘incoming’ if they back Hawley bill to limit corporate giving in campaigns
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Manu Raju | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

According to multiple sources familiar with the Tuesday lunch meeting, McConnell warned GOP senators that they could face “incoming” from the “center-right” if they signed onto Hawley’s bill. On that list of senators: Hawley himself, according to sources familiar with the matter. But there’s also no love lost between McConnell and Hawley, who has long criticized the GOP leader and has repeatedly called for new leadership atop their conference. In an interview, Hawley defended his bill and said that corporate influence should be limited in elections. “I think that’s wrong,” Hawley told CNN.

Persons: Mitch McConnell, Sen, Josh Hawley, McConnell, Hawley, there’s, ”, Chuck Schumer, ” Hawley, “, Chris Christie, Donald Trump, Mike Braun, Kevin Cramer of North, Marsha Blackburn of, Dan Sullivan, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Roger Marshall of Kansas, Susan Collins of, Steve Daines, Thom Tillis, Lindsey Graham of, Katie Britt, Alabama, Lisa Murkowski, Eric Schmitt of Missouri, Ted Budd of, JD Vance, Ohio, Ron Johnson Organizations: CNN, GOP, Kentucky Republican, Fund, McConnell, New, New York Democrat, Missouri Republican, Indiana Locations: New York, Ukraine, Israel, Colorado, Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Montana, North Carolina, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Ted Budd of North Carolina, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin

Mr. Johnson, the Louisiana Republican who has personally voted against sending military aid to Kyiv, released a $14 billion aid bill for Israel on Monday. But Mr. Johnson spurned that request, in an acknowledgment of how toxic funding for Ukraine has become among Republicans. agents,” Mr. Johnson said. “Instead of advancing a serious proposal to defend Israel, defend Ukraine and provide humanitarian aid, this House G.O.P. My guess is you can get Ukraine aid passed, probably as a stand-alone bill here.

Persons: Mike Johnson’s, Biden, Johnson, Biden’s, Fox News’s, ” Mr, Chuck Schumer, Mr, Kevin McCarthy, Thomas Massie of, Marjorie Taylor Greene, “, ’, Ms, Greene, —, Steven Ellis, MacGuineas, Mitch McConnell of, ”, Schumer, McConnell, Oksana Markarova, I’ve, Johnson’s, Susan Collins of, “ I’m, Josh Hawley, Let’s, Hawley, McConnell “, let’s, Patty Murray, Antony J, Blinken, ” Zach Montague Organizations: Senate, Louisiana Republican, Internal Revenue Service, Israel, Fox, Democratic, Republicans, United, Taxpayers, Federal Budget, Biden, Republican, University of Louisville, Ukraine, Mr Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Louisiana, Kyiv, Taiwan, United States, New York, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, America, Kentucky, Ukrainian, Susan Collins of Maine, Gaza, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Washington, Russia, Iran

(CNN) - Mike Johnson swiftly ascended to the speakership with unanimous support from his party. It shouldn’t be this way.”“This has not been a good moment,” said Republican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, reflecting on the last three weeks. “I trust Mike Johnson. New York House Republicans say they plan to introduce a resolution to expel Santos as soon as Thursday. So far, though, Speaker Johnson is treading carefully.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, Joe Biden, Mike Kelly, ”, Mario Diaz, that’s, It’s, Johnson’s, George Santos, –, “, We’ll, Mitch McConnell –, Sen, Susan Collins of, Collins, doesn’t, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Matt Gaetz, Dan Crenshaw, John Duarte of, they’ve, Dusty Johnson of, Kelly Armstrong of, Mike, Santos, ” CNN’s Lauren Fox, Haley Talbot Organizations: CNN, Republican, GOP, Hamas, Rep, George Santos of New, Israel, White, Senate, Republicans, Texas GOP, Dusty Johnson of South Dakota, New York House Republicans Locations: Florida, Israel, George Santos of, George Santos of New York, Ukraine, Taiwan, Susan Collins of Maine, Texas, John Duarte of California, Dusty Johnson of South, Kelly Armstrong of North Dakota

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, whose trailblazing career embodied the rise of women in politics, the movement for gun safety and, finally, a determination to keep serving her California constituents despite illness and advancing age, has died. In the past two years, it was apparent Feinstein was having memory issues, and sometimes appeared befuddled on Capitol Hill. Tributes from lawmakers in both parties flowed Friday morning, as somber Senate lawmakers mourned the loss of their colleague. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat and House speaker emeritus, sat in the Senate gallery, listening to the tearful tributes with Feinstein's daughter, Katherine. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Alaska Republican, lauded "the beauty of Dianne Feinstein" and chastised those who pressured Feinstein to step down, not appreciating the sacrifices the ailing California lawmaker made to serve her state.

Persons: Sen, Dianne Feinstein, Feinstein, Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, Feinstein's, Katherine, Republican Sen, Susan Collins of, Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Murkowski, Patty Murray, Murray, Joe Biden, Dianne, –, Biden, Jill, ”, George Moscone, Harvey Milk, Dan White, Anita Hill, Clarence Thomas, Thomas, Barbara Boxer, GOP Sen, Pete Wilson, Feinstein –, Ted Cruz, I've, Sandy Hook, John McCain, Barack Obama, Gavin Newsom Organizations: Capitol, demurred, New, New York Democrat, California Democrat, Republican, Alaska Republican, Washington Democrat, San Francisco City Hall, San Francisco, California, GOP, Democratic, CIA, Gov, Democrat, California Democrats, Democrats Locations: California, New York, Susan Collins of Maine, Alaska, Washington, San Francisco, San, Delaware, Ted Cruz of Texas, –, Connecticut, Iraq

Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Monday that staff for the chamber’s Sergeant-at-Arms — the Senate's official clothes police — will no longer enforce a dress code on the Senate floor. “Senators are able to choose what they wear on the Senate floor. I will continue to wear a suit.”Schumer did not mention Fetterman in his statement about the dress code, which will only apply to senators, not staff. “I plan to wear a bikini tomorrow to the Senate floor,” Collins joked. “Now I can vote from the Senate floor on Mondays,” Hawley said, noting that he usually wears a suit and tie every other day.

Persons: Chuck Schumer, Pennsylvania Sen, John Fetterman, ” Schumer, Fetterman, Kansas Sen, Roger Marshall, it’s, Schumer, “, ” Marshall, Republican Sen, Susan Collins of, ” Collins, ”, “ They’re, Missouri Sen, Josh Hawley, ” Hawley, Connecticut Sen, Chris Murphy, he’s, Sergeant, ” Murphy, ” Fetterman, Kevin Freking Organizations: WASHINGTON, Senators, Kansas, Republican, Senate, Democrat, Arms, Associated Press Locations: Pennsylvania, Kansas, Susan Collins of Maine, Missouri, Connecticut

☆ Republicans soften on federal marijuana reform in a shift that could make it a reality
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Julie Tsirkin | Liz Brown-Kaiser | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

The SAFE Banking Act would make it lawful for legal marijuana businesses to use major financial and banking institutions. Smart Approaches to Marijuana Action, a political organization opposed to marijuana legalization, urged Tuberville to oppose the legislation in a recent letter. Financial institutions, including small and community banks, have also put pressure on lawmakers, including Tuberville, to support the bill. There's been these attempts by the chairman of the Banking Committee to add a bunch of other stuff onto it, and I think that just completely torpedoes the chances." Ahead of his re-election campaign, President Joe Biden announced his intention to pardon federal convictions for simple marijuana possession offenses at the end of last year.

Persons: Chuck Schumer, We've, Sen, Steve Daines, Sherrod Brown, Kevin Cramer, Daines, Cramer, Dan Sullivan, Lisa Murkowski, Bill Cassidy of, Cynthia Lummis of, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Susan Collins of, Kevin McCarthy of California, McCarthy, Tommy Tuberville, Steve Stafford, Tuberville, Sullivan, Jeff Sessions, Trump, Sheriff Dan Springer, Springer, I've, Jeff Merkley, Jack Reed, It's, Cory Booker of, Dave Joyce, Alexandria Ocasio, Joe Biden Organizations: U.S, Capitol, Banking, Housing, Urban Affairs, SAFE, Republicans, Democrats, GOP, Auburn University, Smart, Senators, Republican, D.C, Sheriff, HOPE Locations: Ohio, GOP Sens, Alaska, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Susan Collins of Maine, Washington, Gallatin County , Montana, Montana, Cory Booker of New Jersey, R, Alexandria, Cortez

The Senate returns Tuesday from a month-long recess as Congress gears up for a rocky September with a whole host of to-dos – including averting a government shutdown – before the fiscal year’s end. Accordingly, congressional leaders have made clear that a stop-gap measure to keep the government funded will be necessary. But even without the demands on the CR, reconciling the House and Senate's spending bills more broadly is expected to be a heavy lift this month, and perhaps beyond. Even so, some Senate Republicans were quick to come to McConnell’s defense. But questions about the leader’s health are expected to run in the background this week as the Senate gets to work on a number of priorities.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, ”, Sen, Susan Collins of, McConnell “, Mike Rounds, McConnell, Joe Biden, Biden, Marjorie Taylor Greene Organizations: Caucus, Republicans, New York Democrat, Kentucky Republican, South Dakota, CNN, Senate, Georgia Republican, House Locations: Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine, Washington, Georgia

☆ Trump Indictment Presents New Obstacle in Spending Fight as Shutdown Looms
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Carl Hulse | More About Carl Hulse | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

House Democrats already uniformly oppose the emerging spending bills since they are below the spending levels agreed to by Mr. Biden and Mr. McCarthy in their deal to suspend the federal debt limit and contain numerous conservative policy riders they find objectionable. Should conservatives prevail in their insistence on even deeper cuts and other restrictions on federal law enforcement, it could drive off more mainstream Republican votes. is a stark break with the traditional Republican orthodoxy of strong support for law enforcement. It has little traction in the Senate, where Democrats and Republicans have been working in a bipartisan fashion to advance spending bills for consideration when the Senate returns next month. Most senators of both parties would be opposed to entertaining the sort of spending reductions for law enforcement sought by the House conservatives.

Persons: Biden, McCarthy, Greene, “, ”, Susan Collins of, Trump Organizations: Republican, Senate, Republicans, of Justice, Freedom Caucus Locations: Susan Collins of Maine, Russia, “

☆ Senate confirms abortion rights lawyer to US appeals court
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Andrew Goudsward | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 20 (Reuters) - A lawyer who argued on the losing side of the U.S. Supreme Court case that ended the national right to abortion won confirmation on Tuesday to a seat on a federal appeals court. The U.S. Senate confirmed Julie Rikelman, a top lawyer for the Center for Reproductive Rights, to the Boston-based 1st Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals by a vote of 51-43. Rikelman represented Mississippi's last remaining abortion clinic in urging the Supreme Court to reaffirm the constitutional right to abortion and strike down a state law that banned the procedure after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Rikelman's nomination drew opposition from Republicans, who questioned her abortion rights advocacy during a September 2022 Senate hearing and described her position on the issue as extreme. She is Biden’s third nominee to secure a seat on the court, whose active judges were all nominated by Democrats.

Persons: Julie Rikelman, Susan Collins of, Lisa Murkowski, Rikelman, Dobbs, Joe Biden, Biden, Rikelman's, Andrew Goudsward, David Bario Organizations: U.S, Supreme, U.S . Senate, Center for Reproductive, Circuit U.S, Jackson, Health Organization, Republicans, Center for Reproductive Rights, Thomson Locations: Boston, Susan Collins of Maine, Alaska, Mississippi's, New York

☆ How Randi Weingarten Landed at the Heart of America’s Political Fights
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Jonathan Mahler | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

But Weingarten was friendly with McAuliffe from the Clinton days and was supporting his candidacy on Twitter and cable news, and the A.F.T. By the fall of 2021, America’s public schools were fully open, but mask mandates were still being hotly contested. gave more than $1 million to McAuliffe, and Weingarten even knocked on doors for him in Alexandria. The tabloid, which had been gleefully attacking Weingarten for years — dubbing her Whine-garten — trumpeted the story: “Powerful Teachers Union Influenced C.D.C. Senator Susan Collins of Maine grilled the C.D.C.’s director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, at a committee hearing over what she called the C.D.C.’s “secret negotiations” with the teachers’ union.

☆ RESTRICT Act explained: proposed TikTok ban is 'a PATRIOT Act for the digital age,' some lawmakers say
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

The RESTRICT Act, a bill that could ban TikTok nationwide, was introduced in the Senate last month. GOP Senator JD Vance of Ohio called the bill proposal "a PATRIOT Act for the digital age." But the RESTRICT Act — touted as a way ban TikTok nationwide — would do far more than prevent users from accessing an app known for its viral dance routines and conspiracy theory videos. "This will directly improve our national security as well as safeguard Americans' personal information and our nation's vital intellectual property." Even those who support a TikTok ban, such as Senator JD Vance of Ohio, don't see the RESTRICT Act as an appropriate solution.

April 7 (Reuters) - The federal judge who on Friday suspended approval of the abortion pill mifepristone is a former Christian legal activist whose small courthouse in Amarillo, Texas, has become a go-to destination for conservatives challenging Biden administration policies. U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, an appointee of former Republican President Donald Trump, had a long track record of opposing abortion and LGBTQ rights before the U.S. Senate confirmed him in 2019 to a life-tenured position as a federal judge. FAVORED VENUESince then, his courthouse has become a favored venue for conservative legal activists and Republican state attorneys general pursuing lawsuits seeking to halt aspects of Democratic President Joe Biden's agenda - often with success. In October, Kacsmaryk vacated Biden administration guidance requiring employers to allow transgender workers to dress and use bathrooms consistent with their gender identities. Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi, Bill Berkrot and Diane CraftOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Pool via REUTERSApril 8 (Reuters) - The federal judge who on Friday suspended approval of the abortion pill mifepristone is a former Christian legal activist whose small courthouse in Amarillo, Texas, has become a go-to destination for conservatives challenging Biden administration policies. U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, an appointee of former Republican President Donald Trump, had a long track record of opposing abortion and LGBTQ rights before the U.S. Senate confirmed him in 2019 to a life-tenured position as a federal judge. When anti-abortion groups in November filed a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's more than two-decade old approval of the abortion pill mifepristone, they filed in Amarillo, guaranteeing the case would be heard by Kacsmaryk. FAVORED VENUESince then, his courthouse has become a favored venue for conservative legal activists and Republican state attorneys general pursuing lawsuits seeking to halt aspects of Democratic President Joe Biden's agenda - often with success. While the district's chief judge could order cases be reallocated, he has not.

☆ U.S. judge in Texas will soon rule on the abortion pill mifepristone. Here's what could happen
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The Alliance For Hippocratic Medicine wants Judge Kacsmaryk to nullify the FDA's medical approval of mifepristone, which would effectively ban the abortion pill across the US. Senate Judiciary Committee | YouTubeA Texas judge will soon issue a pivotal ruling in a closely watched case challenging the Food and Drug Administration's approval of the abortion pill mifepristone. It's also possible that Kacsmaryk could order the agency to impose tighter restrictions on access to mifepristone but stop short of completely halting sales. Abortion rights groups and legal experts expect the judge will rule against the FDA in some form. Possible injunctionIf Kacsmaryk issues an order to withdraw mifepristone from the market, there are several ways such a ruling could be drafted.

☆ Senate confirms Eric Garcetti as U.S. ambassador to India
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( Sahil Kapur | Frank Thorp V | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The Senate voted 52-42 on Wednesday to confirm former Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti to be the next U.S. ambassador to India. The long-delayed Garcetti nomination grew unusually contentious and sparked some last-minute drama. Several Democrats voted against advancing his nomination, but enough Republicans backed Garcetti to give the U.S. its first permanent ambassador to India under President Joe Biden, more than two years into his term. "The United States-India relationship is extremely important, and it's a very good thing we now have an ambassador," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said. But a group of Republicans voted yes and helped secure the necessary support, including Sens.

☆ Citing 'death threats,' Texas judge asked attorneys to keep news of hearing on legality of abortion pill quiet
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The Alliance For Hippocratic Medicine wants Judge Kacsmaryk to nullify the FDA's medical approval of mifepristone, which would effectively ban the abortion pill across the US. But Kacsmaryk asked the attorneys to not to publicize the hearing, citing security concerns. Those present at the Friday conference call included lawyers from the Justice Department, the abortion pill maker Danco Laboratories, and a group that opposes abortion called the Alliance Defending Freedom. A group of physicians who oppose abortion called the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine asked Kacsmaryk in November to order the Food and Drug Administration to withdraw its approval of the abortion pill mifepristone. The abortion pill has become the central flashpoint in the legal battle over access to abortion in the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade last June.

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